Japan Times columnist makes case for students to study in Canada – and U of T

Students study at the U of T Scarborough Library (photo by Ken Jones)

“Why not try Canada, eh?”

Columnist Michael Hassett, in the Japan Times, makes the case for Canadian universities like the University of Toronto as an appreciable alternative for Japanese high school students interested in heading overseas for a university education.

Hassett cites U of T’s high global ranking in the 2018 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and Canada’s relative safety – Toronto placed fourth in an index of safe cities by The Economist. Also, he writes, Canadians and the Japanese have positive views of each other, as evidenced by a poll conducted for the BBC World Service in 2017.

Hassett says cost is the main reason cited by Japanese students for deciding to stay in their country for university, but pointed out that universities in Canada often offer financial assistance. For example, he writes U of T students can apply for Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships, merit-based awards that offer full financial support for four years.